JS & SE: The 2022 Limited edition knives: Celebrating 90 years of knifemaking in Holmedal

This summer it will be 90 years since brothers Sigmund and Steinar Helle built their own forge and started making knives on their family farm in Holmedal. Much has changed since, but for Helle Sigmund and Steinar’s focus still applies: To make solid tools that both feel and look good. 90 years and two generations later, Helle’s design philosophy is still founded in the same established principle. Today, it is current production manager Jan Steffen (the grandson of Sigmund) and current MD Svein-Erik (the grandson of Steinar) that are entrusted with carrying these principles forward.

When designing this year’s limited edition knife, Jan Steffen and Svein-Erik wanted to honor their grandparents by designing a knife that preserved the essence of their grandparents’ design philosophy. They agreed that the point of departure should be the pride of Helle in the three first decades of production: the Fjellkniven series. This was Helle’s “high-end” option at the time and combined many of the elements of traditional Norwegian knife culture with high-end material choices, featuring a highly polished blade with false edge/swedge on the spine. Jan Steffen and Svein-Erik also agreed that the right thing to do was to reuse the old sheath pattern developed by their grandparents in the 1930s and reintroduced with the Sigmund.

Picture: Helle Fjellkniven

But here the agreement ended. Jan Steffen wanted to honor his grandfather’s forging skills and include a red element in the design. Svein-Erik on the other hand wanted to include the classic Helle green and incorporate the classic reindeer antlers – his grandfather’s favorite – in the design. Since diversity of opinions has been treasured within the Helle family from the beginning, they therefore agreed to make one design each.

Helle therefore proudly presents two limited edition knives for 2022.

Helle JS

Jan Steffen’s design features a 110 mm long and highly polished H3LS blade with a slight false edge/swedge on the spine. The 107 mm handle features stacked red leather inlets and curly birch in combination. The sheath, made with the original 1930s style Helle print on it, is done in black with red stitching to honor the forge that Jan Steffen’s grandfather was in charge of running.

 Picture: Helle JS - Limited Edition

Helle SE

Svein-Erik’s design also features a 110 mm long and highly polished H3LS blade with a slight false edge/swedge on the spine. The handle is slightly longer at 115 mm, incorporating antler inlets in addition to curly birch and dyed green leather. The sheath, made with the original 1930s style Helle print on it, is done in classic tan leather with white stitching to match the antler horn – Svein-Erik’s grandfather’s favorite material.

 Picture: Helle SE - Limited Edition

Picture: Helle JS & SE - Limited Edition